Botanically, Manjakani (also called Majuphal) is Quercus Infectoria. It is also known with names like GALL TREE, GALL OAK, MASIKAI, MAGIC NUT and ALEPPO OAK. In ayurvedic medicine, it is very important medicinal plant, which is useful for its astringent action. It helps in diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, uterine prolapse, rectal prolapse, irritable bowel syndrome, and for tightening the loose or sagging tissues. For therapeutic purposes, Manjakani, also called Majuphal, is used.

Formation of Manjakani (Oak Galls)

The Gall wasps (also called gall midge flies or cynipid wasps) are responsible for the formation of Oak Galls. Gall wasps taint the new leaves or plant tissues and deposit eggs in on leaves. However, the formation of Oak Galls is poorly understood, but plant responds to the wasp larvae, which lead to a biochemical reaction between plant tissue and wasps’ larvae. There is hard and round shaped abnormal tissue is produced, which is called Manjakani or Oak Gall. This process may take several months.

Basic Information

Safety Profile

POSSIBLY SAFE & TOLERABLE

Medicine Type

Medicinal Plant – Plant Tissue (Gall Oaks)

Potential Action

Astringent

Chemical Composition

Gallic Acid & Tannic Acid

Dosage

250 mg to 1000 mg

Scientific Name

Quercus Infectoria

Plant Family

Fagaceae

Hindi Name

Manjakani, Majuphal

English Name

Gall Oak, Aleppo oak

Other Names

Masikai, Magic Nut, Downy Oak, Mayakku, Mayaphala

Botanical Classification (Plant Taxonomy)

Kingdom

PLANTAE

Sub-Kingdom

VIRIDIPLANTAE

Infra Kingdom

STREPTOPHYTA (land plants)

Super Division

EMBRYOPHYTA

Division

TRACHEOPHYTA (TRACHEOPHYTES or Vascular Plants)

Sub Division

SPERMATOPHYTINA (SPERMATOPHYTES or Seed Plants)

Class

MAGNOLIOPSIDA

Super Order

ROSANAE

Order

FAGALES

Family

FAGACEAE

Genus

QUERCUS L. (Oak)

Species

Quercus Infectoria Olivier (Aleppo Oak)

Medicinal Parts

The main medicinal part of Quercus Infectoria is Oak Galls (Manjakani or Majuphal).

Benefits & Medicinal Uses

Astringent action of Manjakani (Oak Galls) contributes to all its therapeutic benefits and uses. It is effective in wide range of diseases including dental problems, abdominal diseases, uterine disorders etc. We here discuss the principle uses and health benefits of Manjakani.

Chronic Diarrhea with Mucus Discharge

Manjakani powder is used for chronic diarrhea. Along with Dalchini (Cinnamon), it reduces mucus discharge, stool stickiness and frequency of bowel movement.

Manjakani powder

500 mg *

Dalchini (Cinnamon) Powder

500 mg *

Honey

1 tsp. *

* This combination is beneficial for diarrhea with mucus discharge and cramps. It can be taken twice daily for 1 to 2 weeks.

Alone Manjakani powder is also effective when undigested food particles are found in the stool. In such case, it can be taken in the dosage of 1 gram with 1 teaspoon of honey.

Blood in the Stool or Rectal Bleeding & Bleeding Piles

Antihemorrhagic action of the Manjakani helps stopping the rectal bleeding. The following Manjakani combination is helpful in such case.

* It can be taken twice daily and should be continued for several days to get complete relief and prevent recurrence of rectal bleeding.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Manjakani is helpful when one has following symptoms in IBS.

Mucus discharge in the stool

Foul Smell in the stool

Sticky stools

Loose stools

Bloating

If anyone has above symptoms, the Manjakani is helpful in combination as given below:

Manjakani powder

1 grams *

Sonth (Dried Ginger) Powder

500 mg *

Mustak – Cyprus Rotundus

500 mg *

* Twice a day with warm water

Note: This combination should not be used when frequent constipation is a main symptom in Irritable bowel syndrome.

Rectal Prolapse in Children after Severe Diarrhea

Manjakani (Majuphal) decoction should be used to wash the lower section of the large intestine. A cotton cloth should be dipped in the Majuphal decoction and kept on the affected part. Manjakani powder paste can also be applied on the affected part.

Uterine Prolapse

Manjakani is effective in 1st and 2nd degree prolapse. The Uttar Vasti with Majuphal decoction is beneficial in such case.

Alternatively, a small cotton bag filled with Manjakani powder – 8 parts and Alum (FITKARI) – 1 part can be placed internally in along the mucosal wall for best results.

Leucorrhea & Vaginitis

The astringent action of Manjakani reduces inflammation and inhibits the growth of microbes, which helps reducing discharge due to vaginitis or leucorrhea. Internally, 1-gram Manjakani powder with 500 mg Godanti Bhasma is considered best treatment for leucorrhea.

Toothache, Pyorrhea & Gingivitis.

Manjakani is included in most of the ayurvedic tooth powders. It reduces a toothache, Inflammation of the gums, and helpful for treating pyorrhea due to its astringent, antimicrobial and Anti-inflammatory actions.

Recommended Treatment Duration

The recommended treatment duration with Manjakani (Quercus Infectoria) ranges from 3 days to 3 months.

Diarrhea

2 to 5 days

Chronic Diarrhea

1 to 2 weeks

Dysentery

5 to 10 days

Uterine Prolapse

2 to 12 weeks

Rectal prolapse

2 to 12 weeks

Frequent urination

1 to 4 weeks

Urinary tract infections (pus in urine)

2 to 6 weeks

Leucorrhoea

2 to 8 weeks

Bleeding Piles

5 to 15 Days

Irritable bowel syndrome

1 to 3 months

Safety Profile

Manjakani (Oak Gall) is POSSIBLY SAFE & TOLERABLE in most people within the dosage of Manjakani described above. The maximum dosage should not exceed 6 grams per day.

Side effects of Manjakani

The high doses of Manjakani can cause the following side effects:

Constipation (common)

Malnutrition (when used for long-term in high doses): High tannin content when taken in extremely high doses can cause slow absorption of nutrients from the foods, which can cause a deficiency of several nutrients.

Anemia (when used for long-term in high doses)

The side effects of Manjakani are rare. The most seen adverse effect is constipation when it is used alone. Therefore, it should be used in combination of other remedies.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Manjakani should not be used during pregnancy because it could cause congenital birth defects. The internal use of Manjakani should be avoided by lactating mothers because the safety profile is yet unknown.

Contraindications

Manjakani is not suitable in the following health concerns:

Excessive vaginal dryness

Dry Skin

Skin irritation

Cuts and rashes

FAQs about Manjakani

Is Manjakani effective for Vaginal Tightening?

However, Manjakani is not used for this purpose traditionally. In traditional medicine, it is used for reducing the watery discharge and mucoidal secretions that occur due to vaginal infections or leucorrhoea. It has a similar action as Triphala does. Washing genitals with Triphala water are advisable for disinfecting. Manjakani decoction is also used in a similar way for getting same benefits. So, it acts on outermost layers, temporarily contracts the cells, reduces watery discharge and mucoidal secretions, eliminates infections due to antimicrobial action, and produces dryness.

Manjakani has an astringent action due to its high tannin content. It can temporarily help to tighten outermost layers of mucosa due to its astringent action that induces temporary cell contraction, which make you feel temporary tightening. These effects are not permanent. It should not be used if you have any of the following symptoms:

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Dr. Jagdev Singh (B.A.M.S., M. Sc. in Medicinal Plants) is a Licensed Ayurvedic Practitioner under Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) Act India and Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Medicine, Chandigarh since 2010. He is running his ‘Ayurveda Clinic’ in Rupnagar, Punjab, India.

He has successfully treated thousands of patients with Ayurvedic Medicine and Ayurvedic Diet. Ayur Times is an initiative of his efforts to bring quality information on Indian Medicine with the highest level of relevancy and scientific evidence.

I have Ulcerative Colitis for 20 years. When my symptoms are in control, I produce a lot of gas and bloating which gives me a lot of discomfort. I also find undigested food in my stool. Can I use this herb and how?

Hello Sir,
I found many sites advising the use of Manjakani for vaginal tightening. I also recently read that Manjakani should not be used as vaginal tightening because it can cause severe side effects. In your articles, you have not written anything about its benefits for vaginal tightening. Can you please clarify it?